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Synthesizers with Guitar

This is probably a dumb question but I am new to the guitar (about a year in to my learnings with a teacher).

I have some pedals but I want to branch out into getting a synth as well to experiment with the sound.

Does there exist a device that I can plug in to my pedal chain so I can drive it with my guitar AND play it on it's own to create sounds? Also hoping synths have a drum machine because I would like to play with a beat.

I know pedal synths exist but that isn't really what I am looking for, want a synth on its own that I could also use with the guitar but not only with the guitar if that makes sense.

Am I thinking about this wrong? Does this mythical device exist? If not anyone have some relatively entry level devices I can look at?

13 comments
  • You could build a modular synth that you could run your guitar through but that’s a real expensive rabbit hole.

    The Moog Grandmother is a traditional mono synth that has an instrument input on the back that you can plug a guitar into. Not sure if that is what you’re looking for.

  • I'm not sure if it's 100% what you're looking for, but I remember hearing that the designer of the Korg MS-20 synth gave it an external signal in specifically so he could test it out with his guitar. If you wanna try it out they make a mini version of that synth currently, though you'd need a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter to plug your guitar in.

  • The most direct way to start experimenting is getting a free DAW, an audio interface (for the guitar to go into), and download a bunch of synth VSTs and guitar rig simulators. It's too easy to fall into the "hardware" trap and then figure out after spending a bunch of cash that you didn't get the right "thing".

13 comments